Dry eyes and irritation can be annoying on a normal day, but in the middle of a busy week, it’s easy to second-guess what’s “urgent” and what can wait. If your eyes suddenly feel painful, your vision changes, or something just seems off, getting checked quickly can protect your sight and save you a lot of stress.
Below are five signs you may need emergency eye care, plus practical guidance on what to do next.
1) Sudden vision changes you can’t explain
If your vision becomes blurry out of nowhere, you notice a dark curtain or shadow, or straight lines start looking wavy, pay attention, Sudden changes can signal a serious issue that needs immediate evaluation.
Look out for:
- A sudden blind spot or missing area in vision
- Flashes of light, especially with new floaters
- A gray or dark “curtain” moving across your vision
- Distortion (words look bent, faces look warped)
If you’re wondering where to go for emergency eye care, start with an eye doctor who can evaluate the retina and eye pressure quickly, and refer you appropriately if advanced treatment is needed.
2) Eye pain that’s intense, worsening, or paired with nausea
An achy, irritated eye is one thing. Strong pain, especially when it ramps up fast, can be a red flag. Pain with headache, nausea, or halos around lights may indicate dangerously high eye pressure or inflammation.
Seek urgent attention if you have:
- Severe eye pain or pressure
- Headache and nausea with eye symptoms
- Halos around lights or sudden light sensitivity
- Pain that doesn’t improve over a few hours
3) Something hits your eye, or you suspect a scratch
A stray branch, a child’s finger, workplace debris, or even a contact lens mishap can cause a corneal abrasion or scratch. Scratches can be extremely uncomfortable and can become infected if not treated correctly.
Signs you may have an abrasion or injury:
- Sharp, “gritty” feeling that won’t rinse away
- Excess tearing and redness
- Pain when blinking
- Light sensitivity
- Blurry vision after the incident
Avoid rubbing your eye and skip over the counter “redness relief” drops. If you think you might have a corneal abrasion, an experienced eye doctor can examine the surface of the eye with dye and magnification.
4) Chemical exposure or a sudden burn sensation
Cleaning solutions, pool chemicals, fertilizers, and certain beauty products can burn the eye’s surface. This is one of the few situations where you should act immediately before you even leave home.
If a chemical gets in your eye:
- Rinse with clean, lukewarm water for 15–20 minutes
- Remove contact lenses if they don’t flush out on their own
- Don’t use other drops to “neutralize” the chemical
- Get evaluated promptly after rinsing
Chemical injuries are a clear reason to seek same-day care.
5) Red eye with discharge, swelling, or contact lens pain
Not every red eye is an emergency, but some are. If you wear contacts and develop redness and pain, it’s especially important to get checked fast due to the risk of corneal infection.
Call right away if you notice:
- Thick discharge, crusting, or eyelid swelling
- Increasing pain and light sensitivity
- Blurry vision with redness
- Contact lens discomfort that feels “sharp” or worsening
- A white spot on the cornea
If dry eyes suddenly feel dramatically worse, an exam can confirm whether it’s severe dryness or something more urgent that needs targeted treatment.
Protect your vision with fast, clear answers
Eye emergencies are stressful because they rarely happen at a “convenient” time. However, getting care quickly can prevent longer recovery, ongoing discomfort, and avoidable vision loss. If you’re experiencing any of the signs above, or need an emergency eye exam in Michigan, schedule an appointment with Bella Vista Family Eye Care in Rockford so we can evaluate what’s happening and guide you to the right treatment plan.